GraphQL: the new flexible language of scalable APIs

asldevi (~asldevi)
|
29 Aug, 2017

5

Votes

Description:

What is GraphQL

Think in graphs, not endpoints - by Lee Byron, GraphQL Co-Inventor.
- data query language for client-server communication for data fetching and manipulation
- support for server-side frameworks, client libraries
- reduces development efforts and network bandwidth
what you want is what you get

What are REST(ish) APIs

Challenges and pain points with REST

- over or underfetching information
- querying nested information is a pain
(examples)

How GraphQL answers those challenges with examples

- single query to the server that includes concrete data requirements
- get exactly what you need in the format how you need it
- strong schema and type system
- smaller API dev cycles
- validation
- powerful introspection system
- allows querying nested information naturally

Dive into GraphQL

- queries and mutations
(examples)
- how graphQL does its magic
(examples)

Eco System and tools

Challenges with GraphQL

Conclusion

Prerequisites:

Some understanding of what REST APIs are would be beneficial.

Speaker Info:

Devi is a software consultant and a trainer. She has been using Python as a primary tool in web development, machine learning etc for the past 8 years. Currently she works as a Lead backend developer/Architect at PowerToFly. She worked with Avaaz, HasGeek, AMD, C-DAC before, among others.

She has done M.Tech in Computational Science from IISc, before which she tried out teaching Mathematics.